Crisis Communication in the Ghanaian Senior High Schools: A Case Study of Accra Girls Senior High School

Abstract

The establishment of a communications department in a public institution accountable to its citizens is inevitable. This study probes whether the need for a communication/media department in a public institution is an urgent need requiring immediate attention, or an imminent need that could wait a while, as most public institutions do not see the need to spend huge sums of money on modern communication equipment and systems to boost their effectiveness. The researcher uses a descriptive case method to examine the communication needs of the Accra Girls Senior High School in realizing the objectives of the study. A total of 30 respondents made up of staff and interns of the Academy are interviewed through a carefully drafted questionnaire to seek answers to the objectives of this study, which includes; to ascertain why there is no communications department at Accra Girls Senior High School and to find out if a communications department at Accra Girls Senior High School is an urgent or imminent need. The study reveals that excessive bureaucracy and financial constraints are accountable for the somewhat delay in establishing a communications department at the Accra Girls Senior High School. Majority of respondents are of the view that a communications department at Accra Girls Senior High School is an urgent need requiring immediate attention. Respondents acknowledge that Accra Girls Senior High School has made several efforts to establish a communications department over the years, and sees the establishment of a communications department as relevant to its activities. The study recommends that; Council of Accra Girls Senior High School should device accelerated means of expediting options to set up a communications department; in the face of financial constraints, a communications officer should be employed to work with management on the progressive creation of a communications department; and that, the department’s establishment should be handled as a matter of urgency.